A Great Ending to a Great Year.

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve we started a tradition of "eating out" rather than cooking a big meal two days in a row. It was a fabulous idea (it was mine:) Thanks to Call Ahead Seating, we had a yummy meal at Texas Roadhouse, and saw the real Santa there eating a steak before the big night.

(Abby and Taylor could not get enough of watching him eat his entire meal.)

We then went to my parents' home, where we read stories and opened PJ's.

Abby was certain she had to be in bed by 8:00 in order for Santa to come, and we let her hold on to that belief...but it would come back to bite us later.

Abby worked so hard icing the cookies for Santa. As you can see, there is a Santa cookie and an elf cookie. Good thing she left out the cookie that she decorated with blood because she ate his arm.

Christmas Morning

Due to the early bedtime issue, I was awakened at 2:00 am with the lights in my bedroom flashing on and a six year old screaming, "It's Christmas!!!"

I then let her know...it actually wasn't. Not unless we had moved to London in the past ten hours. Abby then stayed up in my room, pretending to sleep on my floor until about 5:00 am, when she apparently gave in and fell asleep until 7:30 on her bedroom floor. (At that point, I followed her into her room and slept with her in her bed...I needed some sleep too.)

You can see in the picture, she is ready to open...and Deak is still half - asleep. He chose the one day to sleep past 6:15 am to be Christmas Morning.

Deak livened up quickly, and loved "helping" his sister open his presents.

The beginning of the four hour "take out of the box" program.

Abby next to her new American Girl Doll tub.
(Nikki was bathing...excuse the nakedness).

Christmas Day/Evening

T'was the Christmas of Diego Trains, and Dancing Brobee's for Deak.

He loves the train, so much in fact, that we have to hide it if we don't want to be in charge of putting the purposefully derailed train back on track every five seconds.

T'was the Christmas of American Girl (Samantha - Thanks Gma and Gpa), Nintendo DS, and the doll who poops and pees in a potty (and apparently all over my floor.)




Deak and Cam...although both were tired at the end of the day, they were happy to be posing for the camera.



Cam

Tay

and the "Painfuls"

(aka...a pretty sweet Rockband group. Especially when Blair or my Dad are on Lead Vocals.)

The After Christmas Party with the Howe's
Ab was a little worn out by this day due to her lack of sleep and the incalculable amount of jumping she has done in the past month. She did liven up when it came time to open presents, and we all had a great time extending our Holiday one more day.


Ab and Kenndell

Easton

We had such a wonderful Christmas. It is so nice to relax and hang out with family and forget about life for a couple of days.

2009....Here we come.